Brian Statham was an absolute genius - Farokh Engineer - Cricket World TV

Former India and Lancashire wicket-keeper Farokh Engineer fondly recalls his time spent keeping wicket to fast bowler Brian Statham, who he describes as an "absolute genius".

Asked to talk about his time with Lancashire between 1968 and 1976, he says the Old Trafford faithful warmed to him very quickly.

"From day one, they accepted me. They just loved me, the Lancashire public," he said.

"Perhaps one of the reasons was that I'd scored the fastest century in Test cricket.

"I think that was what was in Lancashire's mind at that time, that we've got a very attacking batsman here and hopefully a very good wicket-keeper."

He would go on to play 337 times for Lancashire, keeping wickets to some outstanding bowlers, but he remembers Brian Statham as one that stood out.

"I loved keeping wickets to Brian Statham," he said.

"He has actually written in his book that had I been behind the stumps throughout his career he would have finished with twice as many victims.

"For Brian Statham to come out like that I just told him he was drunk!"

Engineer added that Statham's ability and consistency marked him out as an inspiration.

"He was a tremendous inspiration to me. (It was) such joy to keep wickets to him.

"Anything pitched on the middle stump I used to fly down the leg-side, invariably got a leg-side catch, or leg byes I used to stop.

"The way he cut the ball, both ways, he was an absolute genius. He could bowl on a sixpence coin."

Statham finished playing for Lancashire in 1968, by which time he had taken 252 wickets in 70 Tests for England, meaning his career only just overlapped with that of Engineer's.

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